Fiskars was first founded as a Finnish Ironworks company in 1649, making it one of the oldest companies I have heard of that is still going strong. Recently – relatively speaking - in 1967, Fiskars made a name for themselves with their orange handled scissors. Noted for their build quality, sharpness, and durability, these scissors quickly became an industry standard and a leader in the category. Since then, Fiskars has expanded into other areas of the home and outdoors. You may also recognize the name Gerber, as this is one of the brands Fiskars sells under.
Fiskars is now expanding their product line into the construction industry; bringing their durability, ergonomics, and, of course the trademark orange, with them. Spearheading this new product line is the IsoCore Hammer. Fiskars put a lot of time and effort in the vibration dampening in the handle and shaft. The handle is made with dual-layer insulating materials for comfortability and reduction of shock. Fiskars says that the new IsoCore hammer transfers 4x less shock and vibration than wood handles. The hammer comes in a range of options, including weight, smooth or milled face, and magnetic nail setter. The hammers in this line range in price from $44.99 to $64.99 and can be purchased from Fiskars.
Also included in Fiskars new line up are their new PowerArc cutting tools. These cutting tools are where Fiskars shines. This is where they have more experience than anyone else and have elevated a simple tool, like scissors, to the next level. They have beefed up their steel blades in order to power through thick materials without the blades separating. Many times when we are out in the field and we encounter a thick material like carpet, cardboard, plastics, or rope where our scissors will typically fail us, we resort to using a utility knife and end up with a wavy cut. These new PowerArc scissors by Fiskars stand up to this test, and the most impressive thing to me is that they still cut even that the tip of the blade i.e. cutting tight zip ties. The Easy Action 10” shears are the perfect all around scissors whereas the Utility Snips are perfect for heavier materials like light gauge metals. The PowerArc line ranges in price from $22.99 to $49.99 and can be purchased at Fiskars.
Fiskars has paid attention to the small details of their cutting tools shoot to the top of the line. The Easy Action Shears boast a large enough spring to open up the handles, even if you get glue or tar on the blades, yet soft enough to not fatigue your hand during heavy cutting. The Utility Snips and Shears include an extended blade tang to improve leverage and strength, and keep hands away from the materials being cut. Additionally the heavy-duty stainless steel blades won’t rust, even after years of use in the elements or the tool box.
Don’t count Fiskars out just because you haven’t seen them on the job site before. They are producing high quality and durable cutting tools that can’t be beat. If you are in the market for a new hammer give the IsoCore a swing. It’s a durable hammer that will reduce fatigue on those large framing jobs. Hey, and if you own a bunch of Ridgid tools already, these will match!
Last summer, Hilti announced that they had developed their first exoskeleton designed for construction tradespeople in a partnership with Ottobuck, a prosthetics, orthotics, and exoskeleton provider. Earlier this month, Hilti officially released the exoskeleton, announced more details, and published its retail price on their website.